Literary Awakenings

DD2 had a huge literary awakening last night.  She realized that she might, in fact, like books.  Despite her consistent resisting of all things reading, she has been "encouraged" to read several lengthy chapter books for school in these past few weeks.  The latest book for "literature circles" (and i ask you, isn't that name enough to make you cringe and not want to read??) is called Fire Girl and is about a girl who had been burned in a car fire.  Last night she voluntarily finished the book (ahead of schedule which in and of itself is a small miracle) and as she sat down to dinner she burst into tears.  And I mean tears, as in plural,  as in just shy of sobbing.  "This book is amazing.  but oh so sad.  but still so good".  Although she was sad, I love that she discovered that reading is an experience and a good book should make you feel something.  I feel optimistic for her reading future and am excited to think that she may one day share that passion with me.

Procrastination or Preservation?

I really should be getting groceries, making dinner (but i suppose that would depend on the whole grocery thing now wouldn't it?), cleaning the kitchen, or really anything but sitting at the computer writing a blog. That has been part of the blogging lull lately; so difficult to simply find the time to sit still long enough and to think clearly enough to write something that makes sense.  The last 24 hours have been completely overwhelming--not a "i just can't cope another minute" sort of overwhelming but more of a "i have so much to do that i think i shall take a nap" way.  Now that I am through the drama of getting my parents home safely a week early from Portugal (and hopefully getting some proper medical attention---picture this:  full leg cast, from mid foot to hip, for a hematoma on a knee) and now that we have a surgical date for DH (am simultaneously relieved and terrified) , I am (justifiably i think) spending the next several hours completely ignoring all the household chaos.  "What's for dinner mum?"  they ask.  I have no plan for that.  "Do we have any milk?" they whine.  I have no plan for that either.  "I need these forms filled out and signed and money for grad pictures, field trips, and yearbooks" they badger.  And on and on it goes.  And add in a barking dog for good measure.  I should muster it up but truly, I think I will have that nap now.

When is it Friday?

This about sums it all up nicely.  

Series of Unfortunate Events---a.k.a The Bagel Prophecy

Well the bagel called it correctly.  I was in tears before 9:30am.  The day's journey began with a wildly inconvenient and rude kijiji interaction (kijiji=swahili for "you will come to hate all humankind"), evolved to reams of paperwork and uncomfortable phone conversations stemming from a confidentiality incident, continued with driving through a freak snowsquall,  burning my coffee cup while trying to reheat a much needed hit of caffein and finally culminating in a visit to a public school mourning the murder of a little girl where the EA I was working with broke down in tears mid session.  So hard to bring my own sunshine today I'll tell you.  All I can say is thank God for girlfriends as tonight I get to hang with some of my very favourite people and drink some much needed wine.  Tomorrow I am having cereal for breakfast.

Bagel Gymnastics

You begin to suspect things might not go your way when you drop your cream cheese covered bagel and this is the result.  Welcome to Friday.....

Really? You're taking the pens?

It's amazing how life takes you from highs to lows and everywhere inbetween.  Often in just a few short hours.  Last night our car was broken into as it sat in our driveway.  Our "guard dog" (ha ha ha) didn't even blink.  Not a peep.  This from the dog who hears the car door close and waits by the door for you to come up the walk.  This from the dog who is constantly (and i mean constantly hence the nickname "seagull") making noise.  Perhaps if the thieves had been carrying some dried liver in their pockets....
There was nothing of importance stolen except DH's gas card which i suppose will be very important to his employer.  I suspect the thief has filled his car and all his family's cars by now and really, that is worth a lot of cash.  Other than that, the thief is now the proud owner of an ipod cable, pocket change, an umbrella (now there's a hot item), and some pens.   Where is that happy crossing guard when you need her?

The Happiest Gal on the Block

The happiest person I know is someone, in fact, that I don't know.  I don't know her name or what makes her so happy but she never fails to make me consider how I could be that sort of person.  Let me back up and say, this woman is a crossing guard in the small city of Ingersoll.  I see her about once a week, as I drive by her and up the hill toward the school.  I've never spoken to her and only, truthfully, made eye contact with her to make sure that she isn't going to stop me from turning.  However, there she is with a big friendly (and genuine) smile and a wave for me.  Every time.  No matter what the weather and no matter what time of day, this woman treats me like an old friend as I drive by her.
And, believe it or not, I carry this smile with me all day long.  And sometimes I think about her on days I am not in Ingersoll too.  She is really an amazing example of how we can influence someone's life through things we don't even think about.   I must admit, I am not so good at this.  Certainly not this weekend as I had a near what-do-you-mean-there-are-no-coffee-shops-open-before-7AM meltdown in Newmarket.  How can you LIVE in a place with no access to coffee at the very hours one requires coffee??  As I roared out of the Starbucks parking lot (with an air of something between complete disdain and desperation), I caught the eye of a forlorn police officer trying the locked door.  Sad days when one of the city's finest can't even get a cup of joe.  But I digress.

I love that this woman makes me consider what kind of face I am showing to the world.  I love that she makes me feel happy and frankly, good about myself just by the simplest of gestures.  Oh the power this crossing guard wields.  I just love it.

Literate At Last

So it turns out that my happy bits yesterday were a smart way to start my day.  I tried desperately to cling to them as I spent the day looking for lost autistic boys, cajoling (and flat out bribing if I am being truthful) unwilling kids into doing anything with me, and working around a gymnastics assembly (ever try to remove a child from an event involving music, jumping, and dancing?  do. not. recommend. this.).  And then I got home.  Huge home drama, of which I will spare you all the details.  If you have children, I am sure whatever you imagine will be close enough.  With a conscious (and super human some might say) effort to stay calm, all resolved itself in time.  And then the truly unbelievable happened.  A real life phoenix rising from the ashes moment.  DD2 wrote the most incredible piece of work I've EVER seen her do and we've been working on writing for years.  seriously, for years.  After I took a picture of said work for posterity and sufficiently showered rewards on said child (what says way-to-work hard like peanut m&ms?) I settled in to enjoy the rest of my night.  Today I am still basking in the happy my-child-actually-wrote-something-that-makes-her-appear-literate glow.

Happy Bits

Spent the last hour or so reflecting on some things that make me happy.  Always good to share the good bits right?  Here is my list for today (in no particular order of importance):

Made my donation goal for Heart and Stroke month
Managed to drink a whole cup of coffee while it was hot (this is a remarkable achievement in my world)
No lunches to make today because it's pizza day
Got a lovely hug from DD2 this morning
I am rocking some sassy hair (which is a waste on a work day--where was this hair when i went out to dinner with DH the other day??)
I have the best. friends. ever.

What's on your list?